FSCC women unable to hold lead late

Monday, January 5, 2009

By Scott Nuzum, Tribune Sports Editor

Fort Scott Community College's women led a majority of the contest at Arnold Arena Saturday afternoon. But visiting Coffeyville held the Greyhounds to one field goal in the final 3:30 as the Red Ravens came back for a 77-74 win to open Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play.

The Greyhounds (0-1 East, 7-6 overall) led 74-73 with 1:39 remaining after Valencia Kelly's 14-footer gave FSCC the lead for the final time. But Coffeyville (1-0, 11-2) turned two 'Hound turnovers into four converted free throws to take the lead for good.

Fort Scott had a chance to force overtime but Denise Duplechin's three-pointer missed at the buzzer.

The 'Hounds led 13-5 after seven minutes thanks to a 11-0 run that was capped by Valencia Kelly's layup off a steal. Fort Scott led 35-29 at halftime. Coffeyville closed to within 42-41 with 15:32 left in the second half but Fort Scott extended it to 59-47 with 10:20 remaining.

Leondra Doomes-Stephens scored 31 points to lead Fort Scott while Kelly added 20.

COFFEYVILLE: Bufford 0-0 0-0 0, Sims 2-8 2-4 6, Longstaff 0-5 0-0 0, Manuel 0-3 0-2 0, K.Smith 5-8 5-8 15, Gordon 2-9 4-6 9, Nitcher 0-1 0-0 0, Scott 6-12 2-5 16, A.Smith 4-8 0-0 8, Foster 3-3 2-2 8, Green 4-7 2-4 13, Poland 1-1 0-0 2, Drake 0-2 0-0 0. TOTALS: 27-67 17-31 77.

FORT SCOTT: Doomes-Stephens 11-19 5-8 31, Shepard 1-3 2-4 5, Duplechin 1-6 0-0 3, Hampton 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 1-6 0-0 2, Kelly 7-16 6-10 20, Hathaway 1-2 0-0 2, Jackson 1-1 1-2 3, Fernandes 3-7 2-2 8. TOTALS: 26-60 16-26 74.

Halftime: Fort Scott, 35-29.

Three-point field goals: Coffeyville 6-20 (Green 3-5, Scott 2-4, Gordon 1-5, Sims 0-1, Manuel 0-1, Longstaff 0-4), Fort Scott 6-13 (Doomes-Stephens 4-7, Shepard 1-2, Duplechin 1-3, Kelly 0-1).

Total fouls: Coffeyville 22, Fort Scott 23. Fouled out: Shepard. Technical fouls: none.

Rebounds: Coffeyville 46 (K.Smith 9), Fort Scott 36 (Doomes-Stephens 8, Smith 8). Assists: Coffeyville 9 (Gordon 3), Fort Scott 17 (Doomes-Stephens 5, Kelly 5). Turnovers: Coffeyville 20, Fort Scott 24. Steals: Coffeyville 17 (Gordon 4), Fort Scott 8 (Kelly 5). Blocked shots: Coffeyville 1 (K.Smith), Fort Scott 3 (Doomes-Stephens 3).